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You get more DPS credit with a POV vs. postal assigned vehicles. Another reason they are pushing LLVs and Benz’s on our craft? I do miss having tinted windows and an 8 track player, but driving in the passenger seat was hard. It is obviously so much easier and efficient to complete a perfect delivery performance of my 46k in the LLV.

I’m reading these comments while sitting in my LLV

Have congress drop the import bans solely for rural carriers. Honda, Toyota, Subaru, Ford, VW. So many more RHD, safe vehicles could be made available. And in diesel that gets 40+ MOG. Surely the oig cares about the environment. What does the llv get? 4mpg?

Why doesn’t the post office help us carriers finance better pov’s for what we know would fit our needs. I for one am having a hard time wanting to purchase a full right hand drive for my route when my maintenance allowance can’t be used as income to afford one. I’m stuck representing the USPS in a vehicle that I know won’t last two full years on my route. At 50000 miles a year of stop and go plus the commute, I feel like people don’t care as long as there package arrives.

31 years the length of time at PO. I've driven cars SUVs Ford explorers to be exact which were awesome with mail in the amount of packages. I bought a converted Ford Transit connect. My plan is to retire in a year but, damn it holds packages and a lot of them no more second trips and the mileage is great. It has a little over a 13 gallon gas tank which I can fill up every other day and get through the entire route two times before I have to fill again. My route is almost a hundred miles a day. Not sure why they didn't go with something that was already made and had them converted which would be easier than having a new type of vehicle produced. I do my own brakes and son does oil changes which saves a lot of money when you can do your own items like that tires maybe twice a year I have a lot of gravel roads which chews up tires. I don't want a metris, cuz apparently there's a problem with the front right tire always going bald at the rest do not there's an issue with that front end and they suck in the snow and ice very little hill you're not moving I'll keep my own POV on my mail route, once I'm gone I don't care what they do

Love my metris that was assigned to my route it drives great and has plenty of room for today's parcels.the only downfall is I don't understand why the postal service paid so much money for a rear wheel drive vehicle instead of getting an all wheel drive.they do not drive at all on snow.

My wife has been working for USPS for 8 years. After years of using old blazers for the route we finally decided to buy a much newer vehicle for the route as the costs to maintain the older trucks was going up. The Subaru outback we purchased has been excellent for the route. The reduced need for brakes and fuel savings were making up for the car payment. But, now that we have this payment on a car we had to modify to have pedals on the right side, the post office is considering putting a Mercedes van on her route. There are many issues we have with that.
1. Safety - The Outback has all wheel drive and we get to choose the tires we use on her vehicle during the winter months. The Mercedes vans are rear wheel drive and the rural post offices in my area (no joke, dead serious) get hand-me-down tires from the bigger city offices. Seeing my carrier last winter shocked me. Yeah they put snow tires on the rear (just the rear) but they were riding just shy of the wear bars despite the van being new (hand-me-downs from the larger offices). This will definitely lead to a huge safety difference between the two vehicles.
2. Time to complete the route during winter months will be much longer due to the reasons above. Much longer, guaranteed. City maybe not so much but these things weren't designed for rural routes or winter in mind. AWD was an option but post office didn't want to fork over the extra 3k or so per vehicle. Willing to bet they'll pay well more than that in avoidable tow bills over the 30 years they'll run them.
3. Now we have a vehicle that we're making payments on that we purchased solely for delivering the mail. Now that we face losing the ema that previously was covering the payment, we have to add that payment plus full coverage to our budget. Yes selling the car is an option but the value will be reduced do to scratches on the door and the modifications to put the pedal kit in.
I don't know how factors like that can't be considered before purchasing a vehicle to put on a route. Or maybe a heads up letting you know your route is in line for a vehicle in the next two years so you can avoid buying a newer vehicle beforehand.

OIG: Please read your own 2020 report entitled, "Delivery Vehicle Acquisition Strategy". Now look at Table 2 “FY 2019 LLV Maintenance Cost”. USPS had nearly 10000 LLVs with an average maintenance cost of over $12500. (Costs have certainly gone up since then.) Do you want to save money? Replace all those costly (and unsafe) LLVs with Metris Vans instead of forcing them on carriers who don’t want them. Or give them to carriers who would appreciate a government vehicle on their route.

My post office is always having trouble keeping route carriers.
Vermont inspections are tough, and vehicles must always pass a strict inspection once a year. Very few want to beat up an expensive vehicle and maintain the vehicle to constantly drive a Mail route for the pay offered.
Now let's add the cost of gas along with the maintenence.
The post office needs to provide 4x4 vehicles with AC for summer time. Eventually you are going to run out of willing carriers. It's already happening.

So guys. I keep reading this same line throughout all of these posts. The post office cant expect me to provide my own vehicle. But wait....wasnt that in the job description? DID YOU NOT READ WHAT YOU WERE SIGNING UP FOR?! Yes. You are going to spend money on your vehicle. Yup, its going to hurt. There are some of us here though, who know how to work on vehicles, and this job is for us. I dont mind changing my brakes every 5 months (idk what quality brakes you guys are buying but christ they must really suck). I run a 46 with 115 miles daily. I have been through several mail cars. Just wait. You think those vans will be nice? Yeah...wait till youre roasting at 125 degrees (no ac, they dont gaf) and the window doesnt roll down and youve got to open the door at every box? Dont believe me? Its already happening.

Thank you for the opportunity to share our views.

I've worked for USPS as a Rural Letter Carrier, in Wisconsin, for just under 22 years, 9 of those years as an RCA (Substitute Carrier).

I've driven whatever I could afford, at the time, for many years. I know what it's like.

I, for one, prefer to drive my own vehicle to deliver. Unlike the USPS's antiquated LLVs, my POVs have all had, at minimum, HEAT & AIR CONDITIONING. Over the last 2 decades I've been blessed to able to continuously upgrade to newer and better.. SAFER vehicles for myself.

In 2018, I purchased a brand-spanking new Toyota Rav 4 Hybrid, which I specifically chose for delivery.

(This was prior to being buried in Amazon packages later that year.)

In doing so, I doubled my gas mileage on route from 12 mpg (Chevy Blazer) on average, to 24.6 mpg or better. Prior to the recent exorbitant cost of fuel, the EMA I received for my 44K, 61 mile route enabled my vehicle to pay for itself- fuel, insurance, & monthly auto loan payments, and still with a couple hundred left over for tires or other maintenance needs.

In four years I haven't needed to have my brakes done even once! My POV is the best career investment I've ever made. It has a rear camera, air bags, heat, A/C and all-wheel drive, just to name a few of its most prominent safety features.

USPS will never care as much about our safety as we do. I know this for a fact.

I don't want your LLVs, I don't want your Mercedes. I'll keep my POV, you can keep your Metris or any other vehicles that are currently being forced on Rural Carriers across the country.

I find it astounding that these vehicles are making their way onto the POV routes when there are still Rural Carriers in these very same offices being required to continue to utilize the USPS-provided 20-30 year old aluminum deathtrap LLVs in order to make a living to support their families.

To me, that alone, speaks VOLUMES as to where the priorities lie within the United States Postal Service.

It seems they'd rather we were dead than pay us a pittance towards the maintainance of our MUCH SAFER personal vehicles we Rurals use daily in delivering the U.S. Mail.

Here's a thought..
How about replacing the LLVs FIRST before they all spontaneously combust with us inside, and then, give the rest of us a choice? Alot of Carriers would welcome a USPS- Provided delivery vehicle, but not all of us.

Better safe than sorry, they say.

I'd rather be safe, as I feel I am now, than for USPS to be sorry later.

Were at a catch 22 point, I can get a new RHD Hybrid 4x4 120CF van From Japan but I can't import a van newer then 25 years old so with the 5year old we have been using 1999 RHD jeep Cherokee, (not 4wd) and a 2019 ram Promaster City van at 270 cubit foot cap to handle the large Amazon packages on our route using 3 people . I just bought a 2022 RHD jeep wangler, but it has only 72 Cubit foot cap and is set up with a large turbocharged 300hp,( gas hog), motor . it is a needed 4x4, as in the winter we get up to 2 feet of snow. I also ran the route , before we had a driver and a letter carrier in one vehicle while delivering the mail. I we could get a New RHD 4x4 hybrid or electric van imported from overseas would help. (BTW think Amazon is taking advantage of USPS, as I would deliver 4 to 10 large packages with a combined weight way over 70 lbs ( I have the only hand truck out of all letter carriers in Lewis County)

Ive been on pov and postal vehicle routes. The vehicle should be provided. We are expected to deliver in all weather conditions and different terrains. The vehicles provided should be able to handle such conditions. They expect people to come up with thousands of dollars for a proper vehicle and to maintain it. Also, we have to front the gas money. The EMA is not enough. How about a company card for repairs and gas. I'm sure it saves the company some money not having to pay for repairs, gas and insurance but it hinders the hiring of rural carriers. The new postal vehicles are unacceptable. Still no four wheel drive, low visibility. what about the carriers in the northern states that get snow? We NEED four wheel drive and more windows so better vision instead of little cameras that get covered with mud/snow midroute. These postal vehicles are dangerous and unreliable. This question brings up so many issues that need to be addressed. How can we retain employees? Should we expect people to stick around when we offer no benefits? No competitive pay, holiday pay, vacation. These are things that a lot of companies offer in the beginning not in 5-20 years.

I am a regular rural carrier my route is a 43K, my route is approximately 42 miles, Half of my route consists of dirt roads with a lot of potholes. Having to provide a vehicle is a major headache. With gas prices being so high it’s almost not equitable. I’ll never understand why the post office can’t supply vehicles for all of the routes I guess it’s a cost thing. It makes sense if you live out in the middle of nowhere to have to provide your own vehicle. I was fortunate enough to purchase a 2005 Kia Sedona from that previous carrier, I only paid 1200 bucks, however I did have to buy new tires and new shocks and struts, I have replaced a couple wheel bearings other than that it’s running strong. I would never ever spend a bunch of money for a vehicle just so I could go to work to make money it doesn’t make sense to me. I have been on this route for seven months as of right now the EMA is barely covering my costs. Luckily I will be able to bid off my route within the next couple months. Regulars are quitting due to the lack of staff and having to work six days a week. Hi I’ve been working six days a week for over three years and I am totally burned out. I became a regular carrier in January and I was hoping that I would be able to take some time off well that’s not gonna happen anytime soon we have three subs to cover 28 routes it’s a train wreck. I’ve decided to hold on for another year, I know it sounds crazy but I worked so hard to become a regular I can’t just throw in the towel because it’s a little rough right now. Conditions don’t improve and I mean staffing levels I will be seeking a job elsewhere.

I have been a rural carrier for 25 year. Have been love for all of those years. I have never thought that having to supply your on vehicle was really fair. All the other competitors supply there workers with vehicles. We would be able to hire and keep more RCA's if vehicles are supplied. So please supply vehicles to all routes.

I have a POV route 61 miles down dirt roads! I bought a new RH drive 2 years ago! Long story short You give us GAS MONEY, NOTHING ELSE! Even with a new car no miles when I got it, this is my break down,
Brakes front and back every 4 months $1200 X 3 $3600 Not calipers that's extra
3 sets of tires a year, $700, $700, snow tires $ 900 $2300
oil changes 12 a year $600. Car Payments $4,400 yearly! Extra Insurance $1200. And the big Kicker I just dumped $3000 in all struts, ball Joints, all hard ware, then wheel bearings also front end, aliments. Thats not engine work or when the transmission goes out either! =$12,400
HUM This comes out of my salary! I work to fix a car! I love my country route, but I am not going into Debt! FYI, Postal Service Buy us RHD, OR give us gas money and you pay for all repairs on our cars! Those LLV won't do any good on dirts roads in the snow in Colorado! If your building New Postal trucks, make sure they get thru the snow! LOL! I don't know rather to cry or laugh!
EMA $13, 920 Yearly $58 EMA. I fill up 3 times a week $80. $240 weekly
$12,480 Left over $1,440!!!!! EMA
I spent in car repairs this year $12,400
out of my salary NEGATIVE $10, 960. NOW I AM CRYING! How is this FAIR!~~~

73 mile pov route in clyde ny. I'm currently delivering 100 to 200 packages a day, many of them huge and heavy. I drive a 2009 Honda CRV, straddle the center, and have to make 2 (sometimes 3) trips a day. Now, I'd like to be able to submit a few customers for rural reach, but I'd need a gosh darn bus to pick up all those extra packages. HELLO!! If the postal service wants the extra package business, it needs to accommodate the rising package volume by supplying BIG vehicles to carriers. Every time I make an additional trip it's 4.2 more miles in EMA, 20 minutes loading time, and a struggle for me to get back to my delivery unit by 5 pm. Lunch break? What's that? Bathroom break? What's that? Dear OIG, please send me a BIG truck to use. Thanks. LAURA

Some regular rural carriers may actually like having a POV, most of the RCA's I worked with did not. Expecting RCA's to provide a vehicle when they may only work a day or 2 a week defeats the purpose of working. You cannot get ahead. Your vehicle will be in the shop so often and the rising gas prices speaks for itself. And alot of them literally drive junks. You would think the USPS would like to represent themselves better. Not to mention how unsafe it is!! I know management tells us to sit on the passengers side or on the console. How unsafe is that?? What happens if the airbag is deployed? They don't care about the carriers safety at all or this wouldn't be a thing. It's unbelievable actually. Amazon provides nice vehicles for their employees. RCA"S deliver Amazon and cannot even fit half of them in their POV. And as some other people have said, it is hard on your body also. I am NOT surprised the turnover rate of RCA's is so high. I'm surprised it's not higher.

I’m a rural carrier and I drive my pov to deliver. I am truly struggling to make it gas is so high especially since my first mail box is 18 minutes away from my office. I really need a postal vehicle or a raise in ema which 3 pennies is not enough

The new Metris van is a piece of junk. I have never seen a vehicle get stuck in the snow so easy. It acts like the front brakes are always engaged which causes the back to fishtail easily. Even with a small amount of snow driving off the edge of the blacktop to get to a mailbox can cause the vehicle to sway into the box when trying to leave. Then you can't get from the front of the vehicle to the back without getting out of the vehicle. This can be dangerous when in an area known for dogs. Would have been much smarter to have a path to the back so a package could be retrieved without leaving the vehicle, other delivery drivers have this. And the Metris causes shoulder pain compared to using my own vehicle. There is no way to position everything properly. And now USPS will not allow me to use my own vehicle even though the Metris causes shoulder pain and injury. Whoever thought these were a good idea did not do much research.
And these vehicles are forever broken down and requiring maintenance. I do not believe that this is a cost savings for the post office considering the purchase and maintenance, but suppose someone who made the decision has to make it look like it was a good deal.